Former Millbrook First Nation chief Lawrence Paul dead at 79

Lawrence Paul, then Millbrook Band chief, shown during the unveiling of the community's expanded RCMP detachment in May 2008. He passed away Wednesday night at age 79. (Staff / File)

Lawrence Paul, the man who led Millbrook First Nation for almost three decades, has died.

His younger brother, noted author and historian Daniel Paul, said the Mi’kmaq leader died Wednesday night in a Truro hospital. Paul said his brother had been hospitalized since October with dementia and was waiting to be transferred to a care facility.

He was 79.

Paul was chief of the 1,700-member band near Truro for 28 years, until he was defeated in the 2012 election.

He is widely credited for his vision that brought a retail and commercial development known as the Truro Power Centre to an area off Highway 102, and was lauded as a tough negotiator in business and politics.

“He was tenacious when it came to going after something. Sometimes, I think they just gave in to get rid of him,” Daniel Paul said with a laugh.

“He was restless. He wanted to do things. Be involved. And what he did for Millbrook — his negotiations with the Canadian government and the provincial government — were groundbreaking things that opened the door for other Mi’kmaq communities and other First Nations communities across the country to access the tools they need to be able to make progress.”

Millbrook Chief Bob Gloade said his predecessor was a man who saw opportunities for the people of Millbrook.

“He’s always had the vision of economic development and self-sufficiency for our community,” he said.

Gloade, who called Paul “a role model and mentor,” was on council for 12 years with Paul as chief.

“He’s been the spokesperson for our community for many years. And how we were able to achieve our success is by his dedication, commitment and overall drive to enhance the quality of life for our community.”

His commitment to address the needs of all of the community’s members and his ability to work closely with councillors to ensure his vision “was well-shared and well communicated” are principles that continue with Millbrook’s leaders, Gloade said.

Daniel Paul said his brother, the ninth of 14 children, was born in Saint John, N.B. Their parents had gone to New Brunswick searching for a better life but returned to Indian Brook, near Shubenacadie, where their children were raised.

At that time, education was mostly out of reach, and natives weren’t even allowed to vote, he said.

That his brother went on to achieve so much on behalf of Millbrook is a testament to his ability to see what needed to be done and then figure out how best to get that accomplished, Paul said.

Lawrence Paul was first elected Millbrook’s chief in 1984. He went on to win 14 consecutive elections.

As a result of his commitment to improving the economy of Millbrook, Paul was named one of Atlantic Canada’s top 50 CEOs by Atlantic Canada Business Magazine.

He served as co-chair of the Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs and on several boards. He received many awards and was given an honorary doctor of civil law degree in 1994 by Saint Mary’s University in Halifax.

In a news release, Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil called Paul a “tireless champion of his community” who “dedicated his life to opening up economic opportunities for his people.”

His legacy “has left Millbrook stronger and made Nova Scotia a better place,” said McNeil.

“He will be remembered for his leadership, which transformed the Millbrook First Nation into the significant economic force it is today,” Armstrong said in a news release.

He said Paul was the leader for other significant investments, including a building to house a General Dynamics helicopter support facility on the band’s Cole Harbour Reserve, a wind energy project and a planned deepwater port in Melford.

At Sheet Harbour and Joggins, the band developed wharf facilities and maintains small fishing fleets.

Progressive Conservative Leader Jamie Baillie said Paul “exemplified the term community spirit” and steered his people to economic success.

Paul had six children. As well as his brother, he is survived by four sisters.